Restoration of productivity of degraded soil with organic wastes amendment in Abakaliki region of South-Eastern Nigeria

Restoration of productivity of a degraded soil was carried out using randomized complete block design with four treatments for three seasons with Maize (Zea mays L.). Results showed that plots amended with organic wastes had significantly higher soil properties than control for the three seasons under study. Fuether, it was much better in plot amended with burnt rice mill waste (BRMW) relative to unburnt rice mill waste (URMW) and sawdust (SD) for the study period. Available P, N, organic carbon and pH were 11–12, 9–6, 5–3. and 6–2%; 12–13, 12-7, 7–4, and 7–4%; 1, 6, 3, 2% and 5, 8, 5, and 6% higher in plot amended with BRMW when compared to those receiving amendment of URMW and SD in 2013, 2014and 2015 cropping seasons, respectively. Plots amended with organic wastes had significantly higher grain yields of maize for 2013, 2014 and residual season. Grain yield of maize was higher by 8, 1 and 3% in BRMW in 2013 season when compared with yields obtained in 2013, 2014 and 2015 study years. Organic wastes amendment is, therefore, recommended for restoration of productivity of degraded soil in Abakaliki.